Musical instrument



(No Modl.) 4 sheets-sheet 1.

A. LOWMILLBR.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. y No...37 6,443.. Patented Jan. 17, 1888.

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` A. LOWMILLER.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. N0.,376,443. Patented Jan. 17,1888.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

A. LOWMILLER. MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Patented Jan. 17, 1888.

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, mechanism.

ALPHEUS LOVMILLER, OF JEVETT, OHIO.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent. No. 376.443. dated January 17, 1888.

Application tiled Nove uber 9, 18:22. Serial No. 76,376. (No model.)

To alla/'71.07121 t may concern:

Be it known that l, ALPHEUs LowMiLLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jewett, in the 'county of Harrison and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Musical Instruments; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and gures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in mechanical musical instrunients.

It consists in the novel construction, ar-

rangement, and combinations of the parts, as

more fully hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the instrument with the expression-borg removed. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the entire instrument Lon line m fr, Fig. 1. Fig. 2X is a sectional detail of the expressionbox, showing the. relative positions ot' the presserbar and the presser and guide rollers. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the bearing for the upper feed-roller. Fig. 4. is a side elevation of' the instrument, and Fig. 5 is an elevation on opposite side from Fig. 4 and having part of the casing broken away to show the bellows.

Fig.' 6 is a detail view showing the slot and screw serving as a part ofthe fastening of the expression-boze Fig. 7 is a detail view showing part of the combination reed-board. Fig. 8 is a detached vertical and a horizontal section showing the board and spring which hold the key-slip to its place under the reedboard. Fig. 9 shows, on a reduced scale, two of my keylslips; and Figs. 10,11, 12, and 13 are views of modifications of my transposition Fig. 14. is a detached section on line y y, Fig. 2X. Fig. 15 is a detail View showing a modification of the presser, as will be described. Fig. 16 is a section of a portion of the side-provided with the keyslip opening, the cap closing said opening being shown in position.

a designates the top board of my instrument, supported on the casing c', which serves as a covering for the bellows, die., and is mounted on legs c2, as shown.

c a* are the side rails extending up from the board a. The rail a4 is arranged slightly in from the edge of the board af to leave space for the holes c5, through which the bellowsrods pass, as will be described.

a are key-slip pockets formed on the board` a and extended from side to side and provided with an opening through the rail a3, through which the ends of the slips project. These pockets are provided to receive the keyslips not in use and protect them from dust and dirt, and also to provide a convenient receptacle for the same, whence they may readily be drawn when desired. These pockets are arranged one on each side of the reedchamber b. This reed-chamber is mounted on the board a and connects with the bellows by an opening. b', through the board a, which leads into an air-passage which extends to the reservoirbellows.

b2 is a rail projected inward from one of the side boards ofthe reedchamber and adapted to support the sliding section of the combina` tion reed-board, hereinafter described. This rail also serves as a guide for one side ot' the key-slip, hereinafter described.

b3 is another bar arranged within the reedchamber and at adistancefrom the railb'z equal to the. width of the key-slip, hereinafter described, which slides between these bars b2 b3 and is guided thereby into position.

c is the combination reed-board. Itis com posed of the sections c c, which sections in themselves are similar to the reed-board in common use. The section c' is immovablysecured between the side rails, a3 c4. The sections are arranged close together, with the top reed openings connected, as shown. The lower reed-openings are separated a short distance, as shown in Fig. 2.

The section c2 is provided with a bar, c3, pro` jected from its outerside and resting and sliding on the rail b2. The section c2 is held close up against the section c by a spring, et; but where the parts are titted closely this spring is not necessary. The reed-section c2 slides on the rail b2, and its motion is limited to the width of one reed, so that no mistake will be made in drawing it to the proper point in changing from sharps to iiats, as will be described.

ci is a rod secured to bar c and extended yroo through a suitable opening in the side rail a3, and provided' with a stop-button, c, whereby it may be pulled out or pushed in. The opening through which the rod c5 passes is provided with a suitable ring-packing, c7, to prevent the escape of air from the reed-chamber. The section c carries the reeds representing the diatonic or natural scale, as shown in Fig. 7. The section c2 is provided with the reeds necessary with those of the diatonic scale to form the chromatic scale, and I therefore call it the chromatic section and the section c the diatonic section. v

Vhen the stop c6 is pushed in, as shown in full lines, Fig. 7, the reed-board is in position to play by sharps, it being seen that the sharp-reed is opposite its corresponding natural; but should the stop be pulled out, as indicated in dot'ted lines, it will draw the section up, so as to bring the sharp which before was opposite its corresponding natural opposite the natural next higher than its correspondent, and it will then be Hat to its opposite natural instead of sharp, as when the stop is pushed in. This will be'readilyunderstood on reference to the drawings, Fig. 7, in which the reeds are lettered and the motion of the stop indicated.

I have shown the diatonic section as fixed and the chromatic as movable, because it is necessary that the position of the diatonic section should always be fixed with reference to the music-paper. It will be understood, however, that the machine might be provided with means whereby the music-sheet could be automatically adjusted as the reed-section is moved from side to side, and that then the diatonic section could be made movable and the chromatic fixed. 'This could be aecomplished by projecting rods up from the diatonie section on either side ofthe musicsheet adapted to move the said sheet, as indicated by dotted lines Z in Fig. 7. I prefer, however, to use the construction shown and before described. Instead ofusing the two sliding scctions it would loe advantageous in some cases to make the reed-board as though the vtwo sections were all one piece. Then it would form a reed-board having reedseats on opposite sides ofthe air-openings. I would then place all the diatonic reeds on one side and the chromatic on the other side, with the chromatic reeds opposite their corresponding naturals, so the instrument will play by sha1-ps. Vhen the chromatic reeds are thus arranged and it is desired to play a piece by flats, these chromatic reeds are removed by a reedhook or other device, and eachl is moved one space higher, accomplishing the same result as with the use of the sectional reed-board, and causA ing but little trouble to the player.

d is a slip provided with perforations d. The slip is placed over the reed-board and the openings d are arranged immediately over the openings leading into the two reed-sections, as shown. This slip is desirable in order to enable the music to be played in proper time, as when the full reed-board openings are uncovered the music will be played too slowly and the chords will also be thrown out of time. This slip is secured on the fixed reed-section by small pins d2, projected therefrom through suitable openings near the ends of the slip. By varying the length of the holes d t-he time of the tune may be changed, making the instrument play fast or slow, according as the holes are made short or long. It may be de sirable in manufacturing this machine to fur# nish with each instrument a number of these slips having holes of different lengths.

I) designates au antilfriction rollerjournaled on the reed-chamber b below the entrancepoint of the music-sheet.

d is an anti-friction rollerjournaled to the expression-box above the music-sheet exit, as shown, and hereinafter more particularly described.

e is the feed-shaft, journaled in the siderails, cr* a", in the rear (with reference to the direction of motion ofthe music-sheet) of the reedboard openings. It is provided with the rubber sleeves e', covering a part of its surface, in order to give it grip, and is provided on one end with the hand-crank fand on its opposite cud with the small crank e3, having pin c4, as will be described.

The opening in rail a3 through which the shaft e is passed is made larger than the said l shaft, so as to admit the largerslceve, e', to be inserted and removed. I therefore provide the disk e, which I construct with a bearing for the shaft e, and secure this disk to the side rail a by screws or other means, so that it may readily be removed when it is desired to remove the shaft e, which is connected to the cranks e2 e3 by threaded joints.

f is the expressionbox. In order to secure the box on the rails aga", I provide these rails with the slot al, as indicated in Fig. 6, in which is secured a slotted metallic plate. This slot is made large enough to admit the Shanks, though smaller than the heads of screws f', which are secured on the end of the expressionbox and ht down in the slot al. By turning these screws the box may be clamped tighter. At the opposite end from screws f', I tix hooks a on the rails aia, which turn over the pins or screws on the expression-box, and secure the said box so it may be easily removed.

]'3 are pins placed in suitable holes formed in the side bars ofthe expression box directly over the shaft e.

f* are springs bearing on tops of the pinsf.

f5 is a hole through side bar of the expression-box, leading into the pin f3 at a point where the roller gudgeon is journaled, in order to provide facilities for lubricating the bearing.

j is a pressureroller provided with gudgeons f7, which are supported in bearings in the pins f, as shown in Fig. 3. This roller bears directly on the musiesheet and presses the same down on the feed shaft c, the said ICO IIO

Vbythe spring f4.

ifs is a thin board extending from side to side of the expression-box and having one edge arn ranged close to the rolle-rf6 and inclined upward,with its other edge connected to top of box fby board fi?, as shown. This forms a small chamber for the purpose of affecting the sound from the reeds. In the top of the expression-box I cut a large opening, which is closed, when desired, by the lid f1", which is hinged 0n one side and may bc raised, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 4.

g is the pressurebar, arranged within the expression-box above the slip d. It is provided with holesg',coincident with holes d,and is. arranged to press on the music-sheet when passed. between the slip d and the presser-bar. This bar has pins projected from its opposite ends near its bottom,.which work in vertical guide-grooves formed on the inner side ofthe side boards of the expression-box, and its upper end is guided by pin g2, as shown.

`Vg3 are spring-bars arranged to bear on the pressure-bar and hold the same tight down againstthe paper valve, as shown in Fig. 14.

The upper end ofthe presser-bar extendswithin the opening through the top of the expressionbox, and it has the button g4 pivoted on its top and arranged to be turned over the top ofthe expression-box and secure the pressure-bar up from the slip d when it is desired to insert the end ofa music-sheet. lt will be understood that insteadof having the bar movable vertically a rod or other device could be pivot-ed Within the expression-box and provided with ngers bearing on the music-sheet and given pressure by a suitablespring, as shown in Fig. 15, and also that devices could be employed for raising the fingers when it is desired to insert a music sheet. I prefer, however, the construction shown and before described.

The bellows I employ is of ordinary construction and composed, as shown,ofthe reservoir-bellows h and the feed-bellows h if h3, which are all connected with the reservoirb'ellows, as shown. This bellows, it will be understoo'd,is ofthe suction variety, as is indicated bythe arrows. The reservoir-bellows isfconnected through opening b with the reedchan1ber,.as shown in Fig. 2.

i i are bars extending up from the bellows h h3 through suitable openings,c,in,the top a.

These .bars serve as levers in the operation of the bellows.

j j j'L are the connecting-arms, having one en'd pivotcd on the wristpin e4 of crank e, andtheir opposite ends are connected, respectively, to the lever i', the bellows h2, and the lever i. By means ot' these connection-bars I am enabled to operateA the bellows consecutively by the revolution ofthe crank-shatt,and the bellows are operated at even intervals, so that there will be no jar or irregular strain on the feed-shaft which operates the crank,and a regular force is applied to the bellows.

7c is the key-slip-supporting bar, arranged directly below the solid portions of the reedboard and betweenthe reed-openings,as shown in Fig. 2. It is pressed upward by a spring, k', arranged to bear against its underside, and it has pins k" projected on opposite sides and arranged to engage under pins k, and thus prevent the slip-supporting bar from rising up in the path ot' the key-slip, hereinafter described.

7a4 is a lug which guides the end of the O- keygslip when inserted.

Through the rail ai, I form an opening corresponding in size to the key-slips, hereinafter described, with its bottom arranged flush with the top of the supporting-bark, so that the key-slip may be inserted.

Zis a box-cap covering the key-slip opening. It is hinged at one side so it may be turned out to permit the insertion or removal of a key-slip, and it is provided on its other side with a fastening-latch, Z, so it may be secured, and this cap is provided on its inner edge with a suitable packing t0 prevent the escape of air from the reed-chamber.

m are the key-transposingslips. These slips areputthrough thekey-slipopeningand extend under the reed-board, againstl which they are pressed by the bars lr, and the openings near the opposite edges of the .key-slips come under the lower reed-openings of the chromatic and diatonic sections.

m arc holes cut through the slipsm and coinciding with the lower reed-openings of the reeds common .to the key to be. played. These slips can be prepared by any one familiar with the science ot' music, and I will therefore describe the manner of arranging the holes to aid to a full understanding thereof. The Objectis to open only the reeds playing the tonesin the desired key. Take, forinstance, the key of C. In this key all the diatonieand none ot` the chromatic reeds are used, and I therefore cut the slip, as shown in Fig. 9,with one (the diatonie) side cut away to open all the reeds on its side, and the other (the chromatic.) side blank, so as to close all the chromatic reeds.

In the keys of F and G there would be only one chromatic opening foreach octave in this instrument, and as the instrument shown has three oet'aves there would be three chromatic openings. In the key of B ,of which I show a slip in Fig. 9, there will be two chromatic openings for each octave, amounting to six openings in all. l/Vhere adjacent reeds are to be played the opening may be continued to forni both in one, and where desired the openings might bc cut right in from the edge, though when the slip is made of wood they would be likely to break easily, but they could be constructed out of metal.

I need not show or describe slips for all the keys, because the construction thereof will be in accordance with the rule or principle before described, by the aid of which any one skilled in the art can make a slip for any de- IOC sired key.

Several ofthe slips will, by reason ofthe relation between certain different keys, play one key when used with one side uppermost and another key when reversed, as will be apparent to one familiar with the relations of the intervals of the different keys.

In practice it is my purpose to mark cach side of the slips with the key or keys the slip will play when such side is uppermost. I prefer to use this key-slip, because it is easily constructed, cheap, and simple of application. It will be understood, however, that other devices could be employed to accomplishthe result aimed at-namel y, the automatic transposition ofthe scale by means of devices which open the reeds common to the key desired to be played and close those which are not used.

In Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13 I show different modes of accomplishing the transposition of the scale, which I regard as substantial moditications of the key -slip device above described.

In Fig. 10 I show a section of a belt which in operation should be wound on rollers arranged on opposite sides of and parallel to the reed-board, or might form the periphery of a barrel arranged to move tlush against the lower side ofthe reed-board. This belt is divided into sections corresponding in size to the key-slips before described, and perforated with openings in like manner to the said slips, which openings on each division are arranged to open the reeds common to the key desired to be played thereby.

In Fig. 11 the transposition mechanism is composed ofa bank of thin boards made twice as wide as the slips before described and having their forward halfprovided with openings coincident to all the reeds, both chromatic and diatonic, and their other half constructed just like the key-slips before described, and each board provided with stops extended to the outside of the casing orotherwise arranged so that the board representing the key desired to be played may be brought forward, so as to bring its rear half in line with the forward halfof the other boards, as will be understood from the drawings.

In Fig. l2 I show a sectional View representing the reedboard having valves hinged to the upper side thereof and extended down, and with their lower `ends arranged to be engaged by pins arranged on a barrel, as shown. These valves are held to and over the lower reed-opening by a spring when their lower ends are not engaged by pins, as shown on the right in Fig. l2, and the barrel is provided with rows of pins, which are arranged at proper distances apart, and the pins of each row are arranged at proper intervals to open the valves covering the reeds common to any given key. It will be understood that when the barrel is arranged as shown in Fig. 12 there will be required two rows for each key desired to be played, the pins of one row opening the diatonic reeds and the pins of the other row arranged diametricall y opposite and opening the chromatic reeds of the same key.

In Fig. 13 I show a reed-board having a valve arranged on its lower side, with one side hinged and provided with an extension or rod the outer end of which is in position to be engaged by pins arranged on abarrel, as shown, so as to open the reeds common to the key desired to be played.

Ihe use Aof these modifications instead of the key-slip would involve some slight mechanical changes of arrangement of the several parts, which would suggest themselves at once to a person skilled in the manufacture of instruments of the class to which my invention belongs, and it does not seem necessary, therefore, for me to describe such mechanical changes here. The belt shown in Fig. 10 would be visible through a suitable glasscovered opening in the framing, and might be provided on each section with a character to represent the key of the section under the reed-board when the former section is visible through the glass-covered opening, and the shafts of the pinbarrels shown in Figs. 12 and 13 might be provided with an indicating-hand moving on a suitable dial, so that in each case the proper reeds might be opened, and in the use of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1l the stops would be lettered to represent the key played by the boards which they were connected to, as will be, readily understood. These devices would attain thesameend as my key-slips; but l prefer the use of the latter as more convenient and less complicated, and therefore not so liable to get out of repair.

The terms valves and key-slips,7 being names for specic construction of transposing mechanism for accomplishing the same result, will be designated in the claims under the general term of valve or valves 7 for the sake of convenience, as they are so allied and kindred in operation.

al represents the musicsheet,which operates as a valve in its passage over the reeds. I have shown this valve as movable over the reedboard. It will be understood, however, that the instrument could be constructed so that thevalve could be passed under instead of over the reed-board, and that the slight changes necessary to such a variation would readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art.

My music sheet or valve is perforated according to the tune to be played, and I secure the opposite ends together, forming an endless belt. It is in the use of this endless belt that the advantage ofthe rollers D d is experienced, as the one is journaled below the entrance and the other above the eXit ofthe music-sheet. I have shown one of these rollers supported in bearings on the under casing of the instrument and the other one on the expressionbox. It will be understood, however, that they could both besupported on either the main casing or the expression-box, and arranged one above and the other below thc music-sheet entrance,

.removed and the music-band is placed around it, and it is then secured on the instrument by the devices before described. Vhen the music is in astrip, not a belt, it may be wound on rollers supported on bearings n', and the roll- `ers may be connectedfby belt to the operatingshaft, so as to be given the motion necessary to Wind the music-valve. rIhe music-sheet is placed in the instrument as described, and the key-slip of the key in which it is written is then inserted. If the piece is to be played by Sharps, the stop c is pushed in, as shown in full lines, Figs. l and 7, and if the piece is to be played by iiats the stop is pulled out, as shown in dotted lines, same figures, and the crank elis turned and the instrument plays.

It will be understood that the transposition mechanism herein described is not only applicableto mechanical organs, but that it could be applied tororgans having a common keyboard, and in such cases'it would obviate the necessity of the black keys, and that, also, my

transposition mechanism could be applied to all instruments having a regular reed-boardsuch as accordions-and that the changes necessary to make the devices applicable thereto would be merely mechanical, and in my opinion would not involve invention.

In my instrument all the relative minor scales are rendered in regular chromatic order, this being accomplished by the order of the perforations in the paper valve.

From the rules and principles bef'ore described, the person skilled in the art will be able to properly make and manipulate the slips for any desired key.

Th'epaper,it.wil1be understood, is cut tothe letter of a key, and this may be played in either the sharp or dat key ofthe said letter.

VI have hereinbefore described my improvements as applicable to reed-instruments. In

manufacturing, however, I will make some of the instruments with pipes instead of reeds. To do this I remove the reeds proper from the reed-board and connect the reed-openings by flexible tubing with thepipes, which would be arranged in diatonic and chromatic series similar to the arrangement of the reeds. The keychanging slip will be passed in below the reedboard and the music-paper will be passed betweenthe key-changing slip and the bellows, which,when pipes are used, will be made aforce instead of a suction bellows.

I do not claim as my invention a music-sheet card or tablet having two tunes arranged thereon side by side, or with intermediate notes arranged at lthe side of the tune iirst laid out, or

'having a repetition of a tune or part oftune arranged at the side of the rst tune laid out and running in a reverse direction thereto, and a laterally-shifting reed or duct board arranged in combination with a music sheet card or tablet of the charaeterhereinbefore j ust described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In a musical instrument of the herein-de scribed type, the combination, with the reedboard and a music-sheet having a tune written therein and fixed relative to the reed-board as regards any side-to-side or lateral movement, of a transposing mechanism consisting of a valve or valves constructed to operate in the manner described, whereby all passages of the reed-board except those belonging to the scale of a certain key are closed for playing said tune in any desired key, substantially as set forth.

2. A compound reed-board constructed with reed-chambers on opposite sides of its airspaces and having the intermediate partition cut away on the wind-entrance edge, whereby wind is admitted to the opposite air-chambers through a common opening, combined Vwith a valve or series of valves arranged to operate substantially as described, whereby all the passages of the reed-board except those belonging to the scale of a certain key may be closed, substantially as set forth.

3. A reed-board composed of two sections arranged alongside of each other, each section provided with a set of reeds, the reeds of one set alternating in the order or" the chromatic scale with the reeds of the other set, one of said sections being adjustable alongside of the other, substantially as and for the purpose specilied.

4. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination, with the compound reed-board having one section fixed and the other adjust able, of an elastic support arranged to press against the outer side of the adjustable section and hold the same snugly against the fixed section, substantially as set forth.

5. In musical instrument, the combination, with a reed-board, of independent interchangeable transposing key-slips placed over the wind exit or entrance to the reeds and provided with openings registering with the reedchambers for closing all passage-ways therethrough except those belonging to a certain key, 4substantially as specified.

(i. In a musical instrument, the combination, with the reed-board, of an independent interchangeable transposing key-slip over the wind entrance or exit to the reeds to close the passage-ways therethrough except those arranged in the order ofthe intervals of a scale, substantially as shown and described.

7. The combination, with the casing provided with an opening to receive the key-slip, of a cap provided on its inner edge with a suitable packing and provided with means whereby it may be secured to the casing over and covering the key-slip, as set forth.

8. In a ,musical instrument, the combination of the reed-board, an yindependent inter- IOC changeable transposing key-slip, and a yielding support to hold the latter close against the reed-board, substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

9. The combination, substantially as described, of the operating-shaft provided with crank e, having wrist-pin e", lthe bellows 7L h2 h3, and the connecting-armsjjjz, all pivoted at one end on the wrist-pin c, and having their opposite ends connected relatively with and operating the bellows h h? 7L', substantially as set forth.

l0. The combination of the reed-board having reeds arranged on opposite sides thereof `and having Wide upper openings common to its opposite reed chambers, the interchangeable slip cl, provided with narrow openings registering with the wide common openings ofthe reed-chambers to regulate the time of the music,substantially as described,the music sheet, and a presser whereby said sheet is held firmly against the slip d, substantially as set forth.

l1.v In a mechanical musical instruinent,the combination, substantially as set forth, of the casing provided with key-slip openings, the reed-board arranged within the casing with its lower edge ush with the upper Wall ofthe key -slip opening, and the bar K, arranged within the casing with its end adjacent to the key -slip opening` ilush with the under side thereof, and the spring K', bearing under the bar K, all arranged to operate in connection with the key-slip, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

12. Ina mechanical musicalinstrument,the

combination of the casing, the reed-board arranged therein and constructed with a fixed. section, c', and an adjustable or movable section, c2, and a slot and handle-rod, c, connected with the section c2 and extended through the casing, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

13. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination ofthe reed-board having a double row `of reeds alternately arranged in the order of the chromatic scale, wind access to said pairs of reeds being had through a common opening,andhaving individual wind-eXits,and a valve or series of valves arranged, substantially as described, to close all the wind-exits of the reeds except those belonging to the scale of a common key, as and for the purpose specified.

14. In a mechanical musical instrument,thc combination of the casing and the reed-board, the latter made in two sections arranged along` side of each other, the reeds comprised in the sections alternating in the order of the chromatic scale,oue section being movable relative to the other, and both sections having thereceiving ends of their opposite reed-chambers communicating one with the other, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AIJIHEUS LOWMILLER.

Witnesses:

P. B. TURPIN, T. N. GRIFFIN. 

